If you ask a Vegeta enthusiast to list his most memorable techniques from Dragon Ball Z, they’ll likely mention the Galick Gun, Final Flash, and Big Bang Attack. These signature moves first appeared in Z and have remained integral to his character across the entire franchise, including anime, manga, and video games. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack, which first made its appearance in episode 130 of Dragon Ball Z, titled “The Secret of Dr. Gero.”
Did you know? In the original Funimation dub, Vegeta’s iconic move didn’t have a name, even though it was referred to as such in the Japanese version. It wasn’t until Dragon Ball Z Kai that the English dubs officially named the Big Bang Attack.
What Is the Big Bang Attack?
Vegeta’s Strongest Attack for a Little While
The Big Bang Attack is an impressive Ki blast executed by Vegeta, who extends one hand with his palm directed at his opponent. A massive sphere of Ki gathers in front of his palm and shoots out, wreaking havoc on anything in its path. This is typically how it appears. During his fight with Android 18, Vegeta unleashes a “Big Bang Attack.”
Instead of appearing as a ball of Ki, this time it emerged as an energy wave akin to the Galick Gun or Kamehameha. As far as anyone is aware, this wasn’t a distinct variation of the Big Bang Attack; it just happened to look that way. While the Big Bang Attack might come off as a brand-new technique, Daizenshuu 7: Dragon Ball Encyclopedia hints that it is related to the Galick Gun, labeling it as Super Saiyan Vegeta’s take on the move.
The Creation of the Big Bang Attack, and Its First Use
In Dragon Ball, some famous moves have their origins explored or hinted at within the storyline. Take the Kamehameha, which was invented by Master Roshi, or Instant Transmission, a technique from the Yardrats. However, the backstory of the Big Bang Attack is not as well-defined. It’s commonly thought that Vegeta created this attack during the three years between Goku’s return to Earth and the first appearance of the Androids, since he hadn’t demonstrated it before that.
Check out Super Vegeta’s incredible Big Bang Attack!!! – Vegeta as he unleashes the Big Bang Attack for the first time.
The first instance of Vegeta using the Big Bang Attack occurred during his confrontation with Android 19. This was a pivotal moment, as it was not only Vegeta’s initial Super Saiyan transformation but also resulted in the total destruction of everything except for Android 19’s head. At that point, Android 19 was viewed as a major villain who had defeated Future Trunks’ Z Fighters.
Big Bang Attack Variations
Big Bang Crash
Interestingly, Cell employs a version of the Big Bang Attack, suggesting that he might have learned this technique prior to the Android Saga. This attack is unique to Semi-Perfect Cell and resembles Vegeta’s move, but with a reddish-orange hue that gives it the appearance of a tiny sun. Additionally, Cell has a different form called the Super Big Bang Crash, which transforms the attack into a rapid-fire barrage, used in his effort to provoke Android 18.
God Big Bang Attack
It’s a shame that this version of the move only appeared once in the anime, and Vegeta never got the chance to use it. In the film Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ and its Dragon Ball Super adaptation, Vegeta begins to charge the God Big Bang Attack, which is a more powerful version of the regular Big Bang Attack thanks to his God Ki. Unfortunately, before he could unleash it, Frieza destroyed the Earth, taking down nearly everyone, including Vegeta himself. However, fans can still experience the move in its entirety in Dragon Ball Fusions and Dragon Ball Legends.
God Heat Flash
When Cell can imitate Vegeta’s moves and put his own spin on them, it stands to reason that Vegeta can do the same with Cell’s variations. It may seem a little perplexing, but the God Heat Flash is really just a stronger version of the Big Bang Crash. In this technique, Vegeta creates a sun-like orb in his hand that morphs into a Ki beam aimed at his opponent. He tried to unleash the God Heat Flash in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, but it ultimately failed to take down the rampaging Saiyan.
Big Bang Kamehameha
The Big Bang Kamehameha is essentially a fusion of Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack and Goku’s Kamehameha. To execute this powerful move, the user brings their hands together in front of them, creating a focused Ki sphere. From this sphere, a powerful energy wave is unleashed, racing towards its intended target. This technique is showcased by Vegito against Buu in Dragon Ball Z episode 269, titled “Meet Vegito,” as well as by Gogeta in the non-canon series Dragon Ball GT.
Dragon Ball Video Game Variations
Similar to Dragon Ball GT, the video games in the franchise aren’t regarded as canon, yet they’ve created a multitude of Big Bang Attack variations that definitely deserve a mention.
- The Big Bang Burst from Supersonic Warriors 2 is a gigantic ball of Ki that damages the opponent it touches. Vegeta doesn’t launch it, and instead maintains it for a short while, dealing continuous damage.
- The Big Bang Cannon is Cabba’s iteration of the move in Dragon Ball Fusions. Despite being named differently, they look essentially the same.
- Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden has a variant known as the Big Bang Ray, which initially charges as a sphere in Vegeta’s palm, but then turns into an energy wave once unleashed.